Sliding door actuating device

ABSTRACT

A sliding door or wall panel construction includes a panel member having rollers which move over an overhead rail structure in order to permit movement of the panel to an opened and to a closed position. In the closed position the roller adjacent the closing end moves downwardly off the rail structure and the closure device includes a lever member engageable in a pivot lever of an associated closing shaft which is mounted in an upright position adjacent the closure post, for example in a freight car. The closure device includes a pivotal lever carried on the panel or door element which projects out of a recess at the interior of the door element, for example, and which includes a shifting lever portion which is engageable over a cam portion of the pivot lever when the lever is moved in a closing direction to facilitate guidance of an engagement portion into engagement with a portion of the pivot lever. In one embodiment, the shifting lever includes a recessed formation which is engageable over a ball or a ball formation carried on or defined on the pivot lever, and in another embodiment the shifting lever carries or engages a roller or ball-shaped member which is located in a socket defined on the pivot lever. During the closing movement of the pivot lever the door panel which carries it is guided in a closing direction and it is permitted to move so that it roller moves downwardly off its trackway to permit interengagement of the ball and socket joints formed between the shifting lever and the pivot lever. In a reverse opening direction the shifting lever raises the door upwardly to disengage the ball and socket joint connection and to also guide the roller on its upper portion into engagement with rail or trackway.

United States Paton Schneider [54] SLIDING DOOR ACTUATING DEVICE [72] inventor: Felix Schneider, Eckmannshausen.

Germany [73] Assignee: Rhelnstahl Siegener Elsenhlltltht'.

dori Gntbl-i, Dreis-Tiefenbach, Germany 2'21 Filed: July 29, 1970 211 Appl.No.: 59,128

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Primary Examiner-J. Karl Bell Attorney-McGlew and Toren [57] ABSTRACT A sliding door or wall panel .construction includes a panel member having rollers which move over an [is] 3,683,553 to] Aug. 15, 1972 overhead rail structure in order to permit movement of the panel to an opened and to a closed position. in the closed position the roller adjacent the closing end moves downwardly oi? the rail structure and the closure device includes a lever member engageable in a pivot lever of an associated closing shah which is mounted in an upright position adjacent the closure post, for example in a freight car. The closure device includes a pivotal lever carried on the panel or door element which projects out of a recess at the interior of the door element, for example, and which includes a shifting lever portion which-is engageable over a cam portion of the pivot lever when the lever is moved in a closing direction to facilitate guidance of an em gagement portion into engagement with a portion of the pivot lever. in one embodiment, the shifting lever includes a recessed formation which is engageable over a ball or a ball formation carried on or defined on the pivot lever, and in another embodiment the shifting lever carries or engages a roller or ballshaped member which is located'in a socket defined on the pivot lever. During the closing movement of the pivot lever the door panel which carries it is guided in a closing direction and it is permitted to move so that it roller moves downwardly off its trackway to permit interengagement of the ball and socket joints formed between the shifting lever and the pivot lever. in a reverse opening direction the shifting lever raises the door upwardly to disengage the ball and socket joint connection and to also guide the roller on its upper portion into engagement with rail or trackway.

9 Claims, 7 Drawing figures Patented Aug. 15, 1972 3,683,553

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 //Vl{NTO/? Fellx Schneider ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 15, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l/VVE/VTQR Felix Schnender WM M FIG.3

ATTORNEYS 1 SLIDING DOOR ACTUATING DEVICE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to the construction of a closing element such as a freight car door and in particular to a new and useful closure mechanism for a sliding door or panel which includes a shifting lever carried by the movable panel or door which is interengaged with a pivot lever in a closed position and which when rocked on its pivot mounting provides a guide for moving and interengaging or disengaging the associated door or panel.

The present invention is particularly applicable for a sliding door arrangement for freight cars wherein the doors are moved during the closing operation into a single plane. Doors of thisnature includerollers-which engage on either bottom or top trackways to facilitate sliding movement of the closure panels. The arrangement includes trackwayswhich are offset adjacent the closure ends in order to guide the doors into the closing plane in which the doors extend parallel toother panels which are arranged adjacent the closing panels. A closing pivoting and locking device is provided atthe posts against which the door panels are moved during the closing thereof. The actuating shaft of the closing pivoting and locking device provides a support for a pivot lever which accommodates, towardthe end of its closing motion, the sliding wall end facing the transverse center of the car, and guides it into a closed position.

In the arrangement described above, the opening operation proceeds so that, at the start of the opening motion, the ends of the sliding walls facing the transverse center of the car are pivoted out of the plane of the wall in a circular arc, whereupon the sliding wall which is suspended by the trolley wheels runs during the sliding motion onto guide tracks which are located outside of the wall plane. Once the sliding wall is thus brought into the sliding plane parallel to the wall plane the opening motion is completed. To do this the sliding wall is guided on its top by guiding tongs which rest against the sliding wall and is guided at its bottom by a front supporting roller located in a ball and socket of the pivoting lever. In order to keep the sliding wall in a position required to pivot or move its front edge and to prevent the supporting roller from rolling off the ball socket of the pivoting lever the ball lever comprises a cup-shaped end of a partly cylindrical part arranged in succession in the travel direction of the sliding wall, the depth of the cup-shaped part being greater than that of the partly cylindrical part. The supporting roller of the sliding wall positions itself in the end position in the cup-shaped part of the ball socket wherein it is retained. A difficulty in the operation of such devices is the movement of the sliding wall out of its retention and the simultaneous surmounting of the static friction and mass inertia.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a sliding arrangement for the sliding door elements wherein the sliding wall or panels can be moved easily and without the use of a great force out at the end position and into a sliding position spaced inwardly from the closing position. With the inventive construction each sliding wall at the location of the end thereof which faces the transverse center of the car is provided at its bottom with a two-sided or two-armed shifting lever having one arm forming a handle which projects out of a recess of the associated door or panel which is longer than the opposite arm. The opposite arm is arranged so that it supports itself against a pivoting lever mounted at an end position in the car such as on a center post and on a pivotal shaft portion. In the end position the bearing plane of the shifting lever is led beyond the point where the shifting lever supports itself against the pivoting lever. The construction of the shifting lever makes it unnecessary to provide an additional handle for moving the doors. For the first phase of the sliding movement the force required can be reduced to a minimum by appropriately dimensioning the lever arms while the continued sliding is effected normally without changing the handle. The pivoting lever may be designed with an engagement end in the form of a ball or a ball socket and it includes a cam formation which is led during the pivoting motion of the sliding wall out of its closed position behind or below the downward projecting end of the shifting lever which supports itself against the cam as the sliding wall is being shifted. The shifting lever may be designed with a lower end which forms a ball-shaped configuration which is engageable, in this instance, in a recess formation of the pivot lever which forms a receiving socket, or the parts may be designed in an opposite manner. The depth of the ball or cylindrical formation is made lesser than the receiving socket so that the shifting lever includes a bearing point which will be engaged on the cam of the pivot lever to leadthe door into its closed position or out of its closed position. The bearing point of the pivot lever may comprise a conical roller mounted for instance on balls in a cup shaped part at the free end of the pivoting lever or the bearing point may comprise a partially spherical portion rigidly formed on the pivot lever.

In order to provide a guiding for the support roller when the shifting lever is designed in the form of a ball socket two mutually spaced juxtaposed guide rails are provided on the shifting lever which have a spacing between them in line with a bar disposed at the lower edge of the sliding wall when the latter is in its end position and the pivoting lever is in its opening position. The distance between the guide rails is greater than the width of the guiding bar. The guide bar has a vertical bend extending downwardly in arc shape in a vertical plane.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus for closing and opening sliding doors which are guided by engagement of wheel elements or roller means carried on the doors with an overhead trackway, and which includes a pivot lever in the form of a vertical shaft having a lever member or portion which may be shifted by rotation of the shaft inwardly and outwardly. in respect to the door plane and which includes an interengagement portion which is engageable with a shifting lever, the shifting lever being pivotally mounted on the door and having one arm portion which extends outwardly for engagement as a handle and another arm portion which includes a first part which is engageable with a cam element on the shifting lever and a second part whicl'ris interengaged within the lever, the shifting lever providing a means for directing the door to its closed position and a pivot A further object of the invention is to provide a sliding door construction which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of this invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the Drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partial side elevational view of a portion of a covered freight car having a two-part sliding wall construction;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial elevational and partial sectional view of the closure mechanism for the sliding doors constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a section taken along the line IIIIII of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial elevational view of the door indicated on the right hand side of FIG. 1 and showing another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a section taken along the line VI-VI of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 5 of still another embodiment of the invention.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied therein in FIGS. 1 to 4 comprises a covered freight car generally designated 50 having a central post 2 with closure panels 1 and 1 arranged on each side thereof and provided with rollers 10 which move along trackways 11 which extend longitudinally between frames 52 and 54. Each trackway 11 includes a central portion 1 1a which is recessed downwardly to accommodate a single roller 10 in the closed position of the respective doors 1 and 1'.

The closure mechanism comprises a closure pivoting and locking device generally designated 3 in the form of a pivoting lever or pivot-lever generally designated 56 and a shifting lever generally designated 6.

In accordance with the invention in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4 the shifting lever 6 includes an upper handle portion 6 which projects out of an opening 58 of the associated door 1 or 1, and a lower arm portion 6a which is bifurcated and includes a first leg portion 60 which is engageable with a cam 40 of a lever part 4 of the pivoting lever mechanism 56. A second leg portion 62 of the bifurcated end 6a of the lever 6 carries a roller 5 which is engageable within a partly cylindrical receiving recess or socket 4b of the lever part 4. The lever part 4 is designed such that its cam 40 extends outwardly from one end of the socket 4b. The lever part 4 is carried at the lower end of an actuating shaft portion 3a which is supported in a vertical position within the frame of the freight car 50 adjacent each side of the post 2. The shaft 3a may be rotated by means of a control lever 64 which extends outwardly therefrom at a convenient height above the bottom.

The shifting lever 6 is mounted by means of a bolt or pivot pin 70 at the lower end of the associated car door 1 or 1'. The leg portion 60 rests against the cam 40 like a finger oriented at a slight angle to the axis of rotation of the shifting lever 6 about its pivot 70. The angle offsetting of the leg part 60 starts approximately at the level of the axis of the supporting roller 5, whereas the angle of its finger-like ends starts approximately at the center of the cam 4c.

When pivoting the sliding wall 1 out of the closed position into the end position the cam 40 is led behind the finger-like end of the first leg portion 60 of the shifting lever 6. When a pull is exerted at the handle part 6d in an opening direction, the first leg portion 60 engages the cam 40 and moves the sliding wall 1 in an opening direction with the lever action. When the sliding wall is closed the shifting lever 6 is reversed by pulling the handle part 6d in the closing direction and a supporting roller 5 snaps into the cup-shaped part or recess 4a formed directly behind the partly cylindrical part 4b in the end position of the sliding wall 1. The finger-like end of the first leg portion 60 of the lever 6 rests against the cam 40.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 there is provided a closing mechanism 3 which includes a lever 6' which is similar to the other embodiment but which includes a lower arm portion 6a with a leg portion 62 which forms a recess 72 for engagement over a ball 74 which rests in a receiving socket defined in a pivot lever 4 of a modified pivot lever mechanism 56'. The bottom edge of the shifting lever 6 includes, in addition to the cup-shaped part 62', a part 76 which includes guide rail formations 7 which project upwardly. The space between the guide rail 7 is aligned with a guide bar 8 which is formed at the lower edge of the neighboring wall part 1 and the spacing is greater than the width of the guide rail 8. The upper edge of the guide rails are bent vertically downwardly or rounded with approximately the radius which extends to the center of the receiving recess of the leg portion 62'. In the end position of the sliding wall 1' the cup-shaped part 62' rests against a bearing point formed by the ball 74.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7 the actuating shaft 3a" is provided with a lever 4" which is provided with a ball-shaped projection 74' instead of the receiving ball 74 as in the embodiment of FIG. 5. When a ball 74 is provided as in the embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 6 it is usually mounted on bearing means permitting its rotation such as other balls arranged within the pivot lever part 4.

In the examples of the embodiments of FIGS. 5 to 7 pivoting of the front edge of the sliding walls 1 or 1 out of the closed position into the end position, or vice versa, is accomplished by movement of the shifting lever 6' or 6" which is supported at the bearing ball 74 or 74'.

In order to secure and arrest the sliding wall 1' in its end position and while pivoting it the following conditions are met:

1. The cup-shaped recess of the second part 62' of the shifting lever 6 or 6" is made deeper than the partly cylindrical part (FIG. 7) which is formed at the outer end of the bottom of the lever 6 and 6"; and

2. The mounting of the shifiing'lever 6', 6" on the pivoting lever 4', 4 is through thebearing point of the ball 74, 74 and thus extends beyond dead center.

Opening of the sliding wall 1 from its end position is accomplished in the embodiments of FIGS. 5 to 7 by pulling the handle 6 or 6" in the opening direction. This causes the front edge of the sliding wall to be lifted vertically in a circular arc and to be moved further in an opening direction after the front trolley wheel 10 at the top of the sliding wall part 1' is raised and has mounted its track 11.-

The front edge of the sliding wall 1 is guided at the bottom by the guide rails 7 in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 along both sides of the guide bar 8. During the closing motion of the sliding wall part 1' the downwardly projecting side of the shifting lever 6 rests against the ball 74 carried on the pivoting lever 4. The shifting lever 6' moves with its cylindrical recess part 62' over the bearing point formed by the ball 74 and leads or lifts the associated wall into its closed or open position.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7 a spring 12 moves the lever 6 into engagement at the bearing point of the ball 74' prior to the reversal of the shifting lever and the lever 6" effects the lifting or leading of the front end of the sliding wall 1 into its end position by movement thereof in a circular arc.

What is claimed is:

l. A closing mechanism particularly for sliding door panels of a freight car, comprising a door panel adapted to move longitudinally between opened and closed positions, roller track means supporting said panel for longitudinal movement, a pivot lever arranged adjacent an end of said door panel when it is at a closed position thereof and including a lever part having a receiving socket and a cam surface defining an upwardly extending runway rail, a shift lever pivoted on said door panel and having an upper handle portion and a lower engagement portion with a first part engageable with said receiving socket and a second part engageable with said cam surface, said cam surface being located so that when said second part is engaged thereon, said shift lever causes lifting and guiding of said door when said handle portion is urged toward a closing direction and to cause said part to move onto said upwardly extending rail for lifting said door panel, said first part and said receiving surface defining interengageable projecting and recessed parts for closing and locking said door.

2. A closing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said second part and said receiving portions comprise an interengageable ball and socket joint.

3. A closing mechanism particularly for sliding door panels of a freight car, comprising a door panel adapted to move longitudinally between opened and closed positions, roller track means supporting said panel for longitudinal movement, a pivot lever arranged adjacent an end of said door panel when it is at a closed position thereof and including a lever part having a receiving surface and a cam surface, a shift lever pivoted on said door panel and having an upper portion and a lower engagement portion with a first part engageable with said receiving surface and a second part engageable with said cam surface, said cam surface being located to %rt 1%il lr2'3i3i9i il i fififififfa ifh i part and said receiving surface defining interengageable projecting and recessed parts for closing and locking said door, said roller track means including a trackwayhaving a recess adjacent one end thereof and a roller movable over said trackway movable into said recess to permit lowering of the door in a closed position adjacent the closed end thereof.

4. A closing mechanism particularly for sliding door panels of a freight car, comprising a door panel adapted to move longitudinally between opened and closed positions, roller track means supporting said panel for longitudinal movement, a pivot lever arranged adjacent an end of said door panel when it is at a closed position thereof and including a lever part having a receiving surface and a cam surface, a shift lever pivoted on said door panel and having an upper handle portion and a lower engagement portion with a first part engageable with said receiving surface and a second part engageable with said cam surface, said cam surface being located to cause lifting and guiding of said door when said handle portion is urged toward a closing direction, said first part and said receiving surface defining interengageable projecting and recessed parts for closing and locking said door, said pivot lever comprising an upright rotatable shaft, and a lever part extending outwardly from said shaft adjacent the lower end thereof.

5. A closing mechanism according to claim 4, wherein said lever part includes a partly cylindrical recess comprising said receiving surface, said shift lever first-part comprising a leg having a roller engageable in said partly cylindrical recess.

6. A closing mechanism according to claim 4, wherein said lever part includes a recess portion, a ball member accommodated within said recess portion comprising said receiving surface said shifting lever having a first part with a receiving socket shaped to receive said ball.

7. A closing mechanism according to claim 4, wherein said lower part includes a rounded projecting portion of ball-shape comprising said receiving surface, said shift lever having a first part with a receiving recess for engagement over said rounded projecting part of said pivot lever.

8. A closing mechanism according to claim 7, wherein said shifting lever first part is provided with a receiving recess for accommodating said ball which is of a depth smaller than that of the ball.

9. A closing mechanism according to claim 4, wherein said shifting lever second pait includes spaced vertically extending guide members, said panel carrying a plate engageable in the space between said guide members. 

1. A closing mechanism particularly for sliding door panels of a freight car, comprising a door panel adapted to move longitudinally between opened and closed positions, roller track means supporting said panel for longitudinal movement, a pivot lever arranged adjacent an end of said door panel when it is at a closed position thereof and including a lever part having a receiving socket and a cam surface defining an upwardly extending runway rail, a shift lever pivoted on said door panel and having an upper handle portion and a lower engagement portion with a first part engageable with said receiving socket and a second part engageable with said cam surface, said cam surface being located so that when said second part is engaged thereon, said shift lever causes lifting and guiding of said door when said handle portion is urged toward a closing direction and to cause said part to move onto said upwardly extending rail for lifting said door panel, said first part and said receiving surface defining interengageable projecting and recessed parts for closing and locking said door.
 2. A closing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said second part and said receiving portions comprise an interengageable ball and socket joint.
 3. A closing mechanism particularly for sliding door panels of a freight car, comprising a door panel adapted to move longitudinally between opened and closed positions, roller track means supporting said panel for longitudinal movement, a pivot lever arranged adjacent an end of said door panel when it is at a closed position thereof and including a lever part having a receiving surface and a cam surface, a shift lever pivoted on said door panel and having an upper portion and a lower engagement portion with a first part engageable with said receiving surface and a second part engageable with said cam surface, said cam surface being located to cause lifting and guiding of said door when said handle portion is urged toward a closing direction, said first part and said receiving surface defining interengageable projecting and recessed parts for closing and locking said door, said roller track means including a trackway having a recess adjacent one end thereof and a roller movable over said trackway movable into said recess to permit lowering of the door in a closed position adjacent the closed end thereof.
 4. A closing mechanism particularly for sliding door panels of a freight car, comprising a door panel adapted to move longitudinally between opened and closed positions, roller track means supporting said panel for longitudinal movement, a pivot lever arranged adjacent an end of said door panel when it is at a closed position thereof and including a lever part having a receiving surface and a cam surface, a shift lever pivoted on said door panel and having an upper handle portion and a lower engagement portion with a first part engageable with said receiving surface and a second part engageable with said cam surface, said cam surface being located to cause lifting and guiding of said door when said handle portion is urged toward a closing direction, said first part and said receiving surface defining interengageable projecting and recessed parts for closing and locking said door, said pivot lever comprising an upright rotatable shaft, and a lever part extending outwardly from said shaft adjacent the lower end thereof.
 5. A closing mechanism according to claim 4, wherein said lever part includes a partly cylindrical recess comprising said receiving surface, said shift lever first-part comprising a leg having a roller engageable in said partly cylindrical recess.
 6. A closing mechanism according to claim 4, wherein said lever part includes a recess portion, a ball member accommodated within said recess portion comprising said receiving surface said shifting lever having a first part with a receiving socket shaped to receive said ball.
 7. A closing mechanism according to claim 4, wherein said lower part includes a rounded projecting portion of ball-shape comprising said receiving surface, said shift lever having a first part with a receiving recess for engagement over said rounded projecting part of said pivot lever.
 8. A closing mechanism according to claim 7, wherein said shifting lever first part is provided with a receiving recess for accommodating said ball which is of a depth smaller than that of the ball.
 9. A closing mechanism according to claim 4, wherein said shifting lever second part includes spaced vertically extending guide members, said panel carrying a plate engageable in the space between said guide members. 